Vote is homage to Catalonia

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Catalonia will be given greater autonomy and wider tax-collecting and judicial powers after Spain’s lower house of parliament approved a divisive proposal.

The Catalan charter, which was approved 189-154, will now pass to the Senate for further debate and possible amendment. It must later be approved by the Catalan parliament and put out to a vote in the region.

The result was greeted by resounding applause, although the right-of-centre opposition Popular Party voted against it, as did the small Republican Left of Catalonia group, which favours independence.

According to the new wording of the charter’s preamble, the regional Catalan parliament